Small Islington restaurant Liman tops TripAdvisor list of 17,400 London eateries
Liman in Penton has topped the list of London's 17,400 restaurants on TripAdvisor. Berivan Battaloglu (second left) and husband Niyazi (far right) with Onur and Nazif. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
A modest Mediterranean restaurant in Islington has become a tourist attraction after reaching number one on TripAdvisor’s list of the 17,400 best London eateries.
Liman in Penton has topped the list of London's 17,400 restaurants on TripAdvisor. Berivan Battaloglu (second left) and husband Niyazi (far right) with Onur and Nazif. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
Liman in Penton Street, near Chapel Market, opened in June and has received five-star reviews on the world’s top travel website.
It is run by Berivan Battaloglu and her husband Niyazi, a chef who used to work at the Royal Albert Hall.
And his dishes have clearly won the hearts of diners – who have rated Liman the best restaurant in the capital.
Speaking to the Gazette, Berivan welcomed the accolade but said there was no time for celebration.
“It’s nice because we’re a small business and don’t have the money for advertising,” she said. “We are very passionate but the pressure is just starting now. We need to keep the quality up.”
The young couple, both 33, knew they had to stand out if they were to be successful.
Most Read
- 1 Teenage Highbury Fields fatal stabbing victim named by police
- 2 Teenager arrested in Deshuan Tuitt murder investigation
- 3 'All I could see was the water coming up': Clean-up begins after Holloway flooding
- 4 Polio virus found in Islington sewage
- 5 'Like a tsunami': Burst water main floods Islington street
- 6 Murder investigation after teenager stabbed in Islington park
- 7 Biggest 'shooting star' meteor shower to peak this week
- 8 'Extremely distressing': Council leader's shock after Highbury Fields stabbing
- 9 Hospital trust increasingly reliant on international medical staff
- 10 Clerkenwell library receives £100,000 to improve accessibility as it turns 90
Berivan continued: “I like to read and learn about business and believe you need to do something different from the others. I did the architecture for our restaurant and our decor is very modern.”
Jim Bearryman of Highbury has been there twice in the last week and believes it’s well worth its place at the top.
He said: “It’s very well run and the food is immaculate. I don’t know them from Adam but I went in last week and the food was outstanding.
“Anyone who goes in there will understand exactly why it’s the number one restaurant in London – you have to give it the top rating.”
Liman is a five-minute walk from Angel Tube station and offers takeaway and a set lunch menu at £6 for two courses.
View the menu at liman.co.uk.
